Vectra VXR

[TW]Fox · 22 Jun 2008 at 18:47

Ed said:
Vec has massive understeer, is dangerous, and goes in ditches. Other cars don't? I mentioned a BMW 530i as it's known to have a fine chassis and handle very well, but even they end up in ditches, so the whole, OMG Vauxhall and ditch thing doesn't really mean much and IS relevant to the point.

You honestly don't see the difference between a car thats inherently flawed and a car that is being driven by somebody inexperienced?

NeilMick · 22 Jun 2008 at 18:49

Ed said:
Hmm

Vec has massive understeer, is dangerous, and goes in ditches. Other cars don't? I mentioned a BMW 530i as it's known to have a fine chassis and handle very well, but even they end up in ditches, so the whole, OMG Vauxhall and ditch thing doesn't really mean much and IS relevant to the point.

Only when we turn the DSC off.

Ed · 22 Jun 2008 at 18:50

I've never crashed a Vauxhall due its dangerous handling.

Edit: I also don't claim to be able to handle a car, whether a GT2 or a Hyundai and I suspect most people on the forum could get themselves in trouble with either.

[TW]Fox · 22 Jun 2008 at 18:52

Ed said:
I've never crashed a Vauxhall due its dangerous handling.

You drive a VXR with 280bhp through the front wheels? Awesome, I didn't realise - please tell us more about it and salvage your contributions in this thread..

I suspect most people on the forum could get themselves in trouble with either.

Don't worry, when you do I'll be here to remind you years afterwards

Fr0dders · 22 Jun 2008 at 18:56

[TW]Fox;11942955 said:
You honestly don't see the difference between a car thats inherently flawed and a car that is being driven by somebody inexperienced?

cant argue with that

THe Vectra suffers from trying to put 280bhp down through the front wheels. S0 much so the Insignia VXR that replaces it is going to be 300bhp and ... 4WD. To put this much power down properly on a track you need RWD or 4WD.

Whether or not this flaw will bother you on fast road driving is debatable. It certainly didnt bother me. All those that said it bothered them drove them at the VXR track days and found they pushed wide when pushing on 100% on racetrack ,something you rarely, if ever do on public roads.

Because the problem only occurs when you go past the limits of the chassis, something you wont do just having a bit of fun on roundabouts.

Ed · 22 Jun 2008 at 19:03

[TW]Fox;11942987 said:
You drive a VXR with 280bhp through the front wheels? Awesome, I didn't realise - please tell us more about it and salvage your contributions in this thread..

As always, Fox seeks quantifiable sources of information yet delivers none himself.

I don't drive one but I've driven one, at some length too. And yes, it understeers, the torque is urgent and there's scrabble too but it's controllable and once you've got traction it's surefooted. Changing direction quickly isn't as subtle as a 205GTi but it's not a disgrace. So it's not a wicked handling car, it's certainly not bad and when you consider what it's roots are and the stupid engine it has I personally think it does a fine job of being a hot family car, which is all it is. It's much better than Saab Aero, V70 T5 etc and they're all torquey turbo's too.

[TW]Fox;11942987 said:
Don't worry, when you do I'll be here to remind you years afterwards

You'll have a wait, most of the time I've got my kids and the dog in the car.

Ed · 22 Jun 2008 at 19:04

MrLOL said:
cant argue with that

THe Vectra suffers from trying to put 280bhp down through the front wheels. S0 much so the Insignia VXR that replaces it is going to be 300bhp and ... 4WD. To put this much power down properly on a track you need RWD or 4WD.

Whether or not this flaw will bother you on fast road driving is debatable. It certainly didnt bother me. All those that said it bothered them drove them at the VXR track days and found they pushed wide when pushing on 100% on racetrack ,something you rarely, if ever do on public roads.

Because the problem only occurs when you go past the limits of the chassis, something you wont do just having a bit of fun on roundabouts.

Precisely. You can't stretch the car without driving, IMO, dangerously.

dirtydog · 22 Jun 2008 at 19:15

MrLOL said:
cant argue with that

THe Vectra suffers from trying to put 280bhp down through the front wheels. S0 much so the Insignia VXR that replaces it is going to be 300bhp and ... 4WD. To put this much power down properly on a track you need RWD or 4WD.

It makes me wonder why it isn't 4wd already. There was a 4wd version of the Cavalier GSi back in 1990, and a 200bhp Cav Turbo 4x4 a few years later. Yet nearly 15 years later they are pushing more power through just the front wheels again, with only traction control to compensate for it.

edit - there was even a Cav 2.0i L 4x4 with 130bhp (the normal 2.0i L 2wd was 115bhp).

SoliD · 22 Jun 2008 at 19:18

dirtydog said:
It makes me wonder why it isn't 4wd already. There was a 4wd version of the Cavalier GSi back in 1990, and a 200bhp Cav Turbo 4x4 a few years later. Yet nearly 15 years later they are pushing more power through just the front wheels again, with only traction control to compensate for it.

Cheaper, people want this power but dont want to pay for it.

jongeeone · 22 Jun 2008 at 19:20

Because its cheaper to just use the front wheels.

No one would pay any more for a Vauxhall... well... some might.

edit... Beaten to it

Maximum Triceratops · 22 Jun 2008 at 20:29

Yours for 11 grand with 30000 miles on it.

Just sold on Pistonheads for 12 Grand.

Its a no brainer, For me anyway but of course everyone has there own opinions so if you like the vxr then go for it.

Maximum Triceratops · 22 Jun 2008 at 20:30

aaahhhh

Fr0dders · 22 Jun 2008 at 20:33

22B said:
... Evo ..

Yours for 11 grand with 30000 miles on it.

.... M3 ....

Just sold on Pistonheads for 12 Grand.

Its a no brainer, For me anyway but of course everyone has there own opinions so if you like the vxr then go for it.

One is completely inunsurable for somebody who'se 25 with a driving ban and a fault claim (2k +), and also warrants servicing every 3k miles.

the other is a 2 door coupe and absolutely no use for taking me the wife and my son on holiday for a fortnight.

DannyW · 22 Jun 2008 at 20:36

jesus why would anyone want a chavtastic vectra over an evo/scooby

Maximum Triceratops · 22 Jun 2008 at 20:36

MrLOL said:
One is completely inunsurable for somebody who'se 25 with a driving ban and a fault claim (2k +), and also warrants servicing every 3k miles.

the other is a 2 door coupe and absolutely no use for taking me the wife and my son on holiday for a fortnight.

Driving ban :eek:

Sorry never knew you were an outlaw

even so wouldnt a vxr be steep on insurance with them endorsments?
I

Fr0dders · 22 Jun 2008 at 20:37

22B said:
Driving ban Sorry never knew you were an outlaw even so wouldnt a vxr be steep on insurance with them endorsments?
I

£1100

its expensive but not outrageous.

Evo was nearly twice that at £2030

edit. my first insurance quote was £2300, and last years insurance on the Picasso (before i was 25) was £900. So this seems cheap in comparison !

Ed · 22 Jun 2008 at 20:37

22B said:
Its a no brainer, For me anyway but of course everyone has there own opinions so if you like the vxr then go for it.

It's not opinion, it's necessity. I drive an estate but I'd rather not.

Maximum Triceratops · 22 Jun 2008 at 20:47

MrLOL said:
£1100

its expensive but not outrageous.

Evo was nearly twice that at £2030

edit. my first insurance quote was £2300, and last years insurance on the Picasso (before i was 25) was £900. So this seems cheap in comparison !

ok then if your goig to fork out 13k on this Vectra then why not buy an evo or an STI for 11k and keep the change to offset insurance/running costs ?
You will save money in the long run too due to depreciation of the Vauxhall being higher than the other cars mentioned.
Correct me if im wrong but here's the list price of the VXR - £25,775 and yours is an 07 plate for 13k?
Try insuring yourself for an STI, might be a bit cheaper than the EVO.

Ed · 22 Jun 2008 at 20:48

DannyW said:
jesus why would anyone want a chavtastic vectra over an evo/scooby

Bootspace, insurance, cost of ownership etc. Plenty of reasons.

Ed · 22 Jun 2008 at 20:55

22B said:
ok then if your goig to fork out 13k on this Vectra then why not buy an evo or an STI for 11k and keep the change to offset insurance/running costs ?
You will save money in the long run too due to depreciation of the Vauxhall being higher than the other cars mentioned.
Correct me if im wrong but here's the list price of the VXR - £25,775 and yours is an 07 plate for 13k?
Try insuring yourself for an STI, might be a bit cheaper than the EVO.

Buying an £11k EVO means you save enough to run it for a year, then what?